Brian Caffarey - 17th July 2007

Maidenhead United 1 Woking 0

Woking?s second pre-season friendly saw them suffer another reverse at York Road last night, going down to a second-half goal. Frank Gray used the occasion to try out a number of triallists in the second half.

Woking were missing Jay Gasson, Matti Pattison and Michael Charles but started the game with most of the players who, we assume, will form the core of the side. Nick Gindre was in goal, with a back three of Paul Lorraine, Tom Hutchinson and Danny Bunce; the midfield comprised Matt Gray, Jerome Maledon, Bradley Quamina and Adam Green, while Giuseppe Sole played in the hole behind Marvin Morgan and Liam Marum.

The first half was a fairly nondescript affair, with the hosts probably having the better of the game and certainly looking sharper up front. Woking?s attempts on goal were few and far between, with Liam Marum (who had to be replaced by Goma Lambu after being tackled heavily) having an early flicked attempt and then Marvin Morgan, the scorer on Saturday, trying his luck from the edge of the area, only to see his shot deflected wide. Jerome Maledon (pictured) found plenty of space in the middle of the park and used the ball intelligently but the Cards made little headway down the flanks or through the middle.

The best chance of the half fell to the Magpies when a neat ball inside the full-back enabled their number 2 to home in on goal, but Nick Gindre was quickly off his line to smother the attempt, and Paul Lorraine then blocked a shot on the line.

Half-time: Maidenhead United 0 Woking 0

It was all change after the break as Frank Gray brought on a host of triallists: even the combined wisdom of Terry Brown (watching from the terraces), Colin Lippiatt and our intrepid reporters from the Woking News and Mail and the Surrey Advertiser didn?t enable us to identify all of them! But we think we saw Joe Welsh (ex-Southend) in goal, Michael Kamara (Crystal Palace) at centre back, Michael Lovegrove (MK Dons) and Josh Mulvaney (Southampton) in midfield and Lloyd Boateng (Wycombe) up front. Matt Ruby also came on in defence and David Shin subsequently replaced Goma Lambu. (I haven?t got a name at present for one of the players, wearing a No 11 shirt.)

Maidenhead made a number of changes too but seemed to be less affected by the general upheaval, as they took a grip of the game and made most of the running. Joe Welsh made a favourable impression with several fine saves and quick movement off his line. But he was unable to do anything about the Maidenhead goal as the ball was lashed into the top of his net in the 75th minute. The lead was almost doubled straightaway as the scorer found himself free again in the box but hit an air shot.

David Shin was soon in the game after his appearance in the 65th minute and came closest to scoring ten minutes from time. He showed perfect control as he took the ball down in the area and was unfortunate to see the Magpies? keeper get a slight touch on his shot, deflecting it onto the post and away. But it was Maidenhead who continued to look the more threatening side as Joe Welsh was forced into two more saves in the closing minutes.

Woking fans will no doubt be disappointed by two early defeats at the hands of lower league opposition, and will be concerned at the paucity of chances being created, but will console themselves with the thought that we have a lot of new players and that there is a long way to go before Rushden and Diamonds arrive at Kingfield on 11 August.

Woking?s next friendly is at home to Terry Brown?s AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 24 July at 7.45pm.